Dear friends, although
I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled
to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted
to God’s holy people. Jude 3
Our world is
filled with false teachings. We are
called in Scripture to contend for the faith.
To be able to contend for the faith, we have to know the truth which is
found only in God’s Word. Jude’s letter
was a reminder to the church for constant vigilance. In addition, it was an encouragement to the
church to keep strong in the faith and to oppose false teachings. We are being called today to continue to be
strong in our faith, even when confronted with false teachings. We are being called to be vigilant and to
recognize and confront the false teachings which are infiltrating our homes and
churches. But to recognize and confront
these false teachings, we must know the truth which is only found in the Word
of Almighty God.
Jude was the
half-brother of Jesus. He was one of the
leaders in the early Christian church.
Jude was emphasizing to the Jewish Christians the important relationship
between correct doctrine and true faith.
God’s Holy Word gives us the real facts about Jesus and salvation. Any doctrine that does not align itself with
God’s Word is false doctrine. The truth
of God’s Word must never be compromised.
God’s Word should never be manipulated or twisted to fit an agenda or a
belief. In verse 4, we notice that false teachers were
teaching that Christians could do whatever they wanted to do without fear of
God’s punishment. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago
have secretly slipped in among you. They
are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for
immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. We must never look at God’s holiness and
His justice lightly. Be on guard against
false teachers who are twisting Scripture teachings to justify their own
opinions, lifestyles, or wrong behavior.
There will come a time of judgment when God will judge the false
teachers for excusing, tolerating, and promoting sin.
How do we know the truth? How do we contend for the faith? We must spend time in the study of God’s Word
allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to our very souls. Without the study of God’s Holy Word, we
cannot know what to defend. The study of
God’s Word needs to be a priority in our daily lives. God reveals truth to us and speaks to us as
we read and study the Bible. We must
guard our hearts so we will not be led astray by false teachings.
We contend
for the faith when we grow and mature in our faith walk with our Savior and
LORD. Knowledge of God’s Word is
important but we must possess an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus. We must possess more than head
knowledge. We have been blessed with the
precious gift of the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us and teach us as we study
the Word of God. John 16:13 – But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you
into all the truth. He will not speak on
his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to
come. As we study God’s Word, the
Holy Spirit will teach us truth, convince us of God’s will, and remind us when
we stray from God’s will. John 14:26 – But the Advocate, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and
will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Christians
have various preferences – types of music
in worship, methods of worship, methods of outreach. That is fine.
That is a preference. But we must
be unified and defend the truth of God’s Holy Word. We must contend for the faith. Stand on the truth of God’s Holy Word.
Dear Heavenly Father, help us to
contend for the faith in this world filled with false teachings. Reveal truth to us found in Your Holy Word so
that when presented with false teachings we are about to recognize and confront
these false teachings with the truth. In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen
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